Cardinals defense victimized by big plays

The Rams’ offense was ranked near the bottom of the league – 24th to be exact – coming into their game with the Cardinals on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.

As many big plays as they got off on Arizona’s defense, you could’ve easily mistaken them for a top-tiered NFL offense.

St. Louis had 367 yards of total offense, as they extended the Cardinals woes by completing the season sweep, this time by a 31-17 count.

Arizona has now lost seven straight games after a 4-0 start to the season.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford didn’t have the most eye-popping numbers – he was 8-of-17 for 205 yards and two touchdowns – but he and his receivers victimized the Cardinals secondary enough times to make a serious dent in their armor.

Bradford threw two 37-yard touchdown passes on the afternoon – one to wide receiver Chris Givens, the other to tight end Lance Kendricks.

The Rams running game was effective as well, gaining 173 yards – 139 of them from running back Steven Jackson.

The Rams three offensive scoring drives in the game went 71 yards, 92 yards and 71 yards respectively.

They absolutely pummeled a Cardinals defense that isn’t used to giving up long drives like that.

“I didn’t think we were as good today defensively, especially the run game,” head coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “That is an area that we have to make sure that we clean up, because we have been better with that.”

Whisenhunt was asked during the post game press conference if he was dissatisfied with the way his defense played on Sunday.

“I think our standard has gotten so high for our defense that it is the natural reaction to feel that way,” Whisenhunt said.

As low as things may seem right now [seven straight losses will do that to you], linebacker Quentin Groves knows it’s not time to split apart as a team.

“Four simple words: we’re all we got,” Groves said. “We have to stick together as a family, as a team, and then just say we’re all we got.”

Cornerback Patrick Peterson sides with Groves in his belief that now, more than ever, this team can’t quit on each other.

“I believe that we are definitely playing playoff caliber defense,” Peterson said. “But at the end of the day, we have to continue to fight with those guys as well [the offense], because we are a team.”

“It’s a lot of adversity going on right now,” Peterson said. “We are down to our third quarterback, but we have to continue fighting.”

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